Velocipede



Aug. W, 135, A B. J. ANbE-:RsoN 2,012332 VELOCIPEDE Filed Aug. 15, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug, 279 1%. B. J. ANDERSON flmw' vELocIPEDE Filed Aug. 13, 1934 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Aug. 27, 1935 UNITED STTATE PATENT OFFICE VELooIPEDE i Bert J. Anderson, Hammond, Iml'. AApnli'atiioinf August 13, 1934 Serial NQ- 739,589 18 claims. l(C1. 208-118) This invention relates to. improvements in childrensvelocipedes and has for one of its principal objects the construction of a sectional sheet. metal frame in such a manner that it may be readily assembled or knockecl down without the aid of special tools.

Another important object of this invention re; sides in the novel means forV reenforoing the rear section of the frame against torsional, transverse,

and Vertical strain.. i

Another and further important object of the Velocipede of this invention is the economy of its manufacture and. its simh'lieilty; i

Still! another and' fnrther important' object of' the invention resides in the faot that a of the knocked down -velocipedes may be paeked' for ``shipment in a sing-le carton, thus substantiall'y ifed'ucing ordinary transportation costs per vehicle; i i

A still further important object 'of -th-i`s`inven tion is lthe fact that the device may be readilyassembled by persons not skilled the art.4

Another and stilll further important object of this invention resicles` in the fact` that as the' saddle 'i's an integrall part` ofv the frame, Wear of that part is red-uced to a minimum, and more'- over, the part cannot become loosened, out of line, or' lost. i

A further important object of' the velocipede of this invention is the provi'sion of means for rea enforcing the head with va single stamping which is secured to both the inner and the oiiter surface of theframe. v l` Still another and ,further important object of the invention resides` in'the novel manner of re.-V movably securing the two Sections of the frame together to produce a `sturdy and rigid and of allowing Va relatively Widespan betweenithe securing members, without appreciably increasing its Weight.`

Other and further important objectsgof the invention will Abecome apparent fromthe following disclosures in the accompanying drawings ,and following specification. 1 The: inventionrin a preferrecl form, is. illustrated in the drawingsand hereinaftermore fullydescribed. i v

In the drawings: i Figure 1 isa side elevationof aipreferredern-` bodimentof' the vel'ocipede-of this inventon. 1 Figure 2 is a rear .eleva'tiojn 'thereofl i Figura 3-is a view'of an'enlarg'ed section of a portion of a rear-wheelfand parts of the'wheel supporti'ngmembers.

Figure 4. is a view of the assembled frame.

Figure 5 is. a top plan view of the assembledframe.

Figmse 6 is anenlargeol section of the assembled head with parts broken away, taken on the line (if-6 of `Figure 5, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. o

Figure 7 is an enlarged plan view of the head taken on the line 'ilof Figure 1.

Figuzte '8' is a sectional .view of the rear member taken on the line 8,-8 of i'igure 5.

Figure 9 is a sectional view of the real: member taken on the line 89 of Figure 5` looking. in the a' longi'lldinel section ,of

direction indicateol by the arrows, and shows the Vaxle and axle supporting members.

Fignre 10 is an enlarged sectional view of a modification of the wheel supporting and securing members, with parts broken away.V

Figure 11 is a front elevation of an axle Vsupporting member;`

Figure 12` is. an enlarged sectional' view of a modification of the` axle supporting and securing' member, .with parts broken away..

As. shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral ta ind-icates in a.gen eral way the upper section of `the velocipede frame of this invei'itionl which isv a substantially flat stamping having a widerear portion forming a saddle E2, anda restricted: forward extending `portion forming a head M. The edges. of .the entire stamping' IG, are. turnedl downwardly and inward ly toimpi'ove its appearance when assembled: and also to give the part greater strength.

The forward edges E6, of the headl M, after being turned Vdown and pressed together, are welded or otherwise permanently secured 'together, and in the preferred embodiment form a Vshaped head, as is best shown inwFigures -5 and 7;. "However, the construction may be varied to' produee any desired shape of head.

=The head`V iigis apertured at E18, as 'is best shown in Figure 5; to receive and rotatably secure the. steering post portion 20, of the fork `22. The steering-post may be secured in position by any conventional means. i

The lower ends of the fork are slotted 21", to receive and rotatably securethe axle 'supporti-ng the front wheel, 29. The center part of 'the slot is bent outwardly at right angles to thefork to serve as a bearing surface for the axle. After' the axle l-is position i-n the slot, the lower opening of said' slot is-c-losed sl-ightly to retain the axle in' rotatable position. i

Seoured' to the bottom of the head M, preferlsupport the axle ll.

- position.

ably by welding, is a stamping 24, having an aperture 26, in alignment with the aperture |8, in the head Hi. This stamping 24 has an upwardly turned front and side edge 2B, which contacts and is secured to the exterior surface of the head lit. The rear portion 30 of the stamping 2d is turned upwardly, as is best shown in Figure 6, and is positioned inside of the head iii.

Wings on each side of the portion 30, are turned at right angles thereto andcontact and are secured to the interior surface of the head M, as is clearly shown in Figure 7. This novel construction and assembly which, while exceedingly light in weight, produces a sturdy and practically indestructible head. The aligned apertures iii and have inwardly turned edges to increase their bearing surfaces. w

The lower section of the frame, comprising a stamping 35, substantially flat in cross section as is best shown in Figures 8 and 9, is removably secured to the upper stamping I, preferably by means of three bolts 36, and co-acting nuts 38,

' although an'y other suitable fastening means may be used. These bolts 36 are spaced in triangular formation to give the greatest resitsance to both vertical' and torsional strain.

The stamping 34, which is approximately of diamond shape, has, in the preferred construction, each side point restricted at Mi to receive an axle supporting member LH. The axle supporting member iii is pierced at 43 and has the edges of the hole turned inwardly at 155 to increase its bearing surface.

The members 4! positioned with pierced holes 4-3V in' alignment on each side of the stamping,

The members li are frictionally secured to the restricted members i and prevent rotation of the axle Lil. The axle thus secured forms a truss rod brace for the stamping 33 and greatly stiffens and reenforces the member. The Wheel Q2, when positioned on the axle 47, is preferably secured in position by placing a washer A over the end of said axle, which is then headed, as is best shown by the reference numeral 5| in Figure 3. I-Iowever, any conventional means may be used for securing the Wheels in In the modified construction as shown in Figure 10, the wheel 42 is positioned on the member ia and is rotatably secured thereto by a hub cap i which, when pressed onto the member ifia, expands said member and is thus frictionally held against rotation or removal. vThe preferred construction of the. wheel is with a bushing 5G, as shown in Figura 3. This construction may be varied to omit the bushing, as shown in Figure 10.

The stamping 34 has a slightly raised center rib i, which mpro-ves its appearance and also reenforces the part against Vertical strain. Injury to the stamping from torsion or transverse strain is prevented by thev turned-in edges 48. These turned-in edges extend diagonally from points adjacent the members '10, to points near theupperend of the stamping and also extend from the members l, to the center of the rear point of the stamping as is best shown in Figures 8 .and 9.' In other words, the reenforcing element fiextends entirely around the perimeter of the diamond shaped stamping.

Avfurther modification which is especially desirable because of its economical manufacture is shown in Figure 12. The ends of the outwardly extendingV portions of the stamping- 34, are pierced and then turned downwardly to abut and be secured to the ends oftheturnedinedges 48,

to form a rigd and substantial axle support. The edges of the pierced holes are turned inwardly, as shown by the reference numeral 52, to form a wide supporting surface for the axle fl'l.

In this modication also the axle M is secured adjacent the ends thereof and serves as a wheel supporting member and also as a truss rod to stiffen and reenforce the stamping 3G.

It Will be apparent from the foregoing that herein is provided a sturdy and practically indestructible velocipede frame. The novel head construction, particularly the reenforcing means, produces a light and economically manufactured unit that is approximately as rigid as if made from solid metal.

Furthermore,the diamond shaped construction of the rear member with its diagonal edge bracing and axle truss bracing prevents warping or bending of that member even when subjected to harsh use.

It will .be further apparent that the portion of the upper part of the frame which carries the load is substantially reenforced by the overlapping part of the lower frame.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention as herein set forth and clairned and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an axle supporting member having outwardly disposed side portions, cylindrical members formed on the ends of said portions of said supporting member, a perforated cup shaped member secured to each cylindrical member in alignment to receive an axle, the edges of said perforations being turned inwardly, and an axle secured against rotation in said perforations, the ends of said axle extending outwardlyv beyond the supporting members.

2. A sheet metal axle supporting member including a reenforcing raised portion on the central part of the member, a portion extending outwardly from each side of the central part terminating in a restricted downturned apertured end, said apertures having inwardly turned edges, and an axle secured in said apertures and extending across the member beneath said central part and projecting beyond said apertured ends.

3. A velocipede. having a sheet metal frame comprising an upper and a lower section joined together to form an integral frame, an axle positioned beneath said lower portion and secured thereto, said upper portion comprising an expandedsaddle portion and a restricted apertured head portion, the sides of said head portion being turned downwardly and spaced apart, and an apertured stamping secured to the spaced apart sides beneath said head with said apertures in alignment.

4. A velocipede having a sheet metal frame comprising van upper and a lower section joined together, said upper sectioncomprising an expanded saddle portion and a restricted apertured head portion, the sides of said head portion being turned downwardly and inwardly to form a V- shaped head, and a single apertured stamping secured to' both interior and exterior surfaces of the V-shaped head, said apertures being in alignment to receive the steering post of a fork.

. 5. A sheet metal velocipede frame including a stamped plate with downwardly turned edges, a saddle formed of the rear part of said stamping,

the forward edges of said stamping being secured together to form a V-shaped head, and a V- shaped member With upwardly turned edges positioned on the bottom of said head, said member being secured to the outer surface of the head.

6. A sheet metal velocipede frame including a stamped plate with downwardly turned edges, a saddle formed of the rear part of said stamp-ing, the forward edges of said stamping being secured together to form a V-shaped head, and a V- shaped bottom member secured to' the inner surface of the head.

7. In a velocipede, a bottom head member comprising a perforated stamping substantially V- shaped in plan formation, a restricted portion extending upwardly at the rear of said stamping, and a securing Wing on each side of said upwardly extending portion,

8. In a sheet metal velocipede frame, a stamped plate having downwardly turned edges, Wheel supporting members on opposed sides of said plate, an upwardly and forwardly extending portion terminating in an apertured substantially V- shaped head, and an apertured plate secured to the bottom of said V-shapedhead.

9. A sectional velocipede frame including a stamped plate, hollow Wheel supporting members on opposed sides of said plate and means for rotatably securing Wheels on said members, said means ccmprising hub caps adapted to expand the ends of the members.

10. In a velocipede frame, a perforated bottom plate head member, a portion of said member being shaped to contact and be secured to the outer surface of the frame, and a portion of said member being turned to contact and be secured to the inner surface of the frame.

11. In a velocipede frame, a perforated 'bottom plate head member, certain edges of said member being turned upwardly to fit and be secured to the exterior surface of the head portion of the frame, and a portion of the member being turned upwardly with contacting surfaces at right angles thereto to fit and be secured to the interior surface of the head portion of the frame.

12. A velocipede having a sheet metal frame comprising an upper front and a lower rear portion, an axle positioned beneath said lower rear portion and secured thereto, said upper portion terminating in an apertured head, a seat formed of the metal of the frame itself intermediate the ends, the sides of said head portion being turned downwardly and an apertured stamping secured to the bottom of said head with said apertures in alignment.

13. A velocipede frame including an apertured horizontal portion and a downwardly extending portion, said horizontal portion having down- Wardly turned spaced apart sides, an apertured stamp-ing secured to the edges of said downwardly turned sides beneath said first named aperture, said first and second named apertures being in alignment, the downwardly extending portion of said frame. being at an angle to the horizontal portion thereof, and a seat formed of the frame itself intermediate the ends.

BERT J. ANDERSON. 

